I know that God in Heaven looked down

And as he knelt there on the ground
And as he knelt there on the ground
I went down by an old country church
I know that God in Heaven looked down
I saw the drunkard stagger and lurch
Alas, he came just one day too late

I saw that drunkard kneel and pray
"Lord, have mercy on me"
"Bring my darling boy to me"
And as he staggered through the gate
And as he knelt there on the ground
And I know that in Heaven, his mother he'll see

Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
Was the kneeling drunkard's plea
I know that God in Heaven looked down
Three years have passed since she went away
Was his mother's dying plea
For God has heard that drunkard's plea
"Lord, have mercy on me"
I know that God in Heaven looked down
And as he reached his mother's grave
Her son is sleeping beside her today